MLB: D'backs spoil Wrigley's party

CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs celebrated the 100th anniversary of the first game at Wrigley Field in the most appropriate way: with a gut-wrenching loss.

They entered the ninth inning with a three-run lead.

They were one out from victory.

And then they collapsed.

After an error by shortstop Starlin Castro, the Arizona Diamondbacks rallied for five runs in the ninth to beat the Cubs 7-5 Wednesday.

“That one finished not like we would have wanted, obviously,” Cubs manager Rick Renteria said. “It seemed like the inning kept opening up, and we weren’t able to end up in the end putting a stop to it.”

Martin Prado hit a two-run single off Pedro Strop (0-2), Miguel Montero had a tying single against James Russell and Aaron Hill followed with a two-run triple off Justin Grimm.

The beloved ballpark, the second-oldest in the major leagues behind 102-year-old Fenway Park in Boston, opened on April 23, 1914, when the Federal League’s Chicago Federals beat the Kansas City Packers 9-1.

Fans sang “Happy Birthday” in the middle of the fifth inning Wednesday. The Cubs wore Federals’ uniforms, and the Diamondbacks wore Kansas City Packers’ threads.

The Cubs moved into the Friendly Confines in 1916, after the Federal League folded, and have established a tradition of beloved losers. The Cubs’ only World Series titles came in 1907 and ‘08, when they played at the West Side Grounds, and they haven’t even reached the World Series since 1945.

Still, the Cubs are 4,076-3,621 (.530) during the regular season at Wrigley, according to STATS, and 7-20 in the postseason. Chicago failed in its bid to win three straight games for the first time since last July 26-28.

Jose Abreu hit another long home run for the White Sox, but it was Semien’s first career slam that turned around the game. Detroit starter Drew Smyly allowed two runs in six innings, but Evan Reed (0-1) gave up two singles and a walk, and Ian Krol allowed the home run to Semien.

Andre Rienzo (1-0) gave up four runs in the fourth inning but kept the Tigers quiet otherwise in his first start this season. He allowed five hits and two walks in 6 1-3 innings, striking out three.

Matt Lindstrom pitched the ninth for his third save, but it wasn’t easy. He allowed a single, a walk and two deep flyouts before retiring Alex Avila on a line drive to first with runners on second and thir